Artificial silk and method of making the same



tain new and useful Improvements Patented @ct. 23, E223.

'UR-TIS C. MEIGS, OF BALA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ARTIFICIAL SILK AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

No Drawing.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, CURTIS C. Mares, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bala, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer- 1n Artificial Silk and Methods of Making the Same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in artificial silk, and. more particularly to an artificial silk formed of a mixture of cellulose and cellulose acetate.

An object of the invention is the provis'on of a superior grade of artificial silk which will be stronger than artificial silks heretofore known, both in the Wet and dry state.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an artificial silk containing cellulose acetate which, however,- may be readily dyed without preliminary treatment as contrasted with the types of acetate silk now used.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an artificial silk which will not be inflammable.

In the present invention I employ a mixture of cellulose acetate and cotton linters or other cellulose material in an ammoniacal copper oxide solution. This material is filtered, spun, and precipitated in the usual manner to form an artificial silk of unusual strength, wet or dry, that may be readily dyed without special preparaton, that does not grow brittle with age, and is not inflammable. I have found that silk formed of a mixture of cellulose acetate and cellulose dissolved in an ammoniacal copper solution precipitates more rapidly when treated with an acid or other precipitating agent and has sufiicient strength to twist while spinning, permitting it to be drawn out to the finest filaments.

In a typical embodiment of the invention, a mixture of 7 grams of cellulose acetate and 7 grams of purified cotton linters are dissolved in 200 grams of ammonia and 9.2 grams of copper hydrate. When the cellulose and cellulose acetate have been dissolved, the solution is filtered and spun in the usual manner through stationary or revolvingspinnerets. The spun material is then precipitated with any suitable acid. Due to the ease with which it may be obtained, I find it advantageous to employ Application filed May 15, 1922. Serial No. 561,190.

sulfuric acid in the precipitation of the spun silk, but any of the usual precipitating agents may be employed in its place. The precipitated silk is, then washed and finished in the usual manner.

As stated, the mixture of a cellulose material and cellulose acetate in the solution produces when spun, a material of great strength which does not materially weaken when wet, which does not become brittle with age, and is not inflammable. It has the advantage over'ordinary acetate silk in that it may be readily dyed without special preparation. a

While I have described in detail, the preferred practice of my process, it is to be understood that the details of procedure, and proportion of ingredients may be widely varied, .and that known chemical equivalents may be employed in place of the materials mentioned, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The process of making artificial silk which consists in dissolving cellulose material and cellulose acetate in an ammonia cal copper oxide solution, spinning the material formed, and precipitating.

2. The process of making artificial silk which consists in dissolving cellulose material and cellulose acetate in a solution of ammonia and copper hydrate, spinning the solution formed, and precipitating the spun material.

3. The process of making artificial silk which consists in dissolving substantially 7 grams ofcellulose acetate and 7 grams of cellulose material in about 200 grams of ammonia, and 9.2 grams of copper hydrate, spinning the solut on formed, .and precipitating the spun material.

4. An artificial silk formed of a mixture ofcellulose material and cellulose acetate in an ammoniacal copper solution.

5. An artificial silk formed of a mixture of cellulose and cellulose acetate in a solution of ammonia and copper hydrate.

In testimony whereof, I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CURTIS C. MEIGS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM B. GREUTNER, PAUL BLAKE. 

